Newark police shoot armed man

NEWARK -- Police shot an armed man Friday following a 45-minute standoff during which the man fired one round at responding officers.

The man suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital, according to a Newark Police news release. His condition was not known late Friday. No officers were injured.

The standoff began after police received a phone call at 5:37 p.m. from a resident concerned about a mentally depressed relative, according to police. The caller advised the relative was possibly in possession of several firearms and had made suicidal threats.

Newark officers responded to a residence in the 5500 block of McDonald Avenue and made telephone contact with the man. They confirmed he was despondent and also heard several rounds being fired from inside the residence.

Police established a perimeter and heard several more shots being fired inside. Crisis negotiators spent about 45 minutes trying to convince the man to surrender, but he refused those attempts and threatened to shoot police, breaking off contact, according to the release.

Police summoned an armored rescue vehicle and were moving in on the residence when the man suddenly emerged and shot at the officers in the armored vehicle, police said.

Officers returned fire, striking the man at least once. He retreated inside the residence before police were able to remove him safely and transport him to the hospital.

The man's name was not released. This incident is under investigation.